Unlocking the Truth

Secrets of the Blue Hill Library Book #3

by Emily Thomas

2013 Guideposts hardcover, Emily Thomas (If Walls Could Talk). When an unmarked envelope arrives at the library, containing a mock-up of a newspaper article, Anne is shocked to learn that she and several of her old high school friends are implicated in a crime that took place the night of their school's homecoming. Worse, the writer threatens to expose secrets that would ruin the classmates' reputations and possibly cost them their jobs. Who wrote this tale of hijinks, and what does the instigator want from Anne and her former classmates? - Amazon

Genres: Mystery, Christian Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Adult Fiction, Fiction

283 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Emily Thomas was born in London, and has lived there most of her life – except between the ages of 13 and 18 when she lived in Maldon in Essex on board a Thames Sailing Barge, with her family of seven assorted siblings and stepsiblings and two warring cats. Emily also works as an editor of many different kinds of books, including children’s and young adult fiction. She now lives in Brixton, with no pets and a lot of books.

Reviews

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 4 out of 5]

About this book:

“When an unmarked envelope arrives at the library, containing a mock-up of a newspaper article, Anne is shocked to learn that she and several of her old high school friends are implicated in a crime that took place the night of their school's homecoming. Worse, the writer threatens to expose secrets that would ruin the classmates' reputations and possibly cost them their jobs. Who wrote this tale of hijinks, and what does the instigator want from Anne and her former classmates?
Meanwhile, Ben and Liddie are covered in a miserable poison ivy rash, and Anne must balance caring for her children and running a library with racing to unlock the truth behind the cryptic news story before it's too late.”


Series: Book #3 in the “Secrets of the Blue Library” series. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!


Spiritual Content- Many Prayers & Blessings over food; Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, remembered & thought over; Church going & a Reverend; Talks about God & trusting; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of prayers, thanking God & blessings over food; Many mentions of churches, events, Sunday School, youth group, hymns & a reverend; Mentions of God & Thanking Him; Mentions of Bibles & devotionals; Mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of Christians; A couple mentions of being blessed; A couple mentions of sins.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blasted’, three forms of ‘dumb’, and six ‘stupid’s; Many mentions of crimes, burglaries, a car accident/hit and run & graffiti; Mentions of drinking, parties, beer bottles, DUIs & prison; Mentions of bullies, pranks & rumors; Mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of divorces; A couple mentions of a car accident & deaths; A couple mentions of beheadings in historical days.


Sexual Content- A tiny bit of noticing & smelling; Mentions of kissing & mono; Mentions of noticing; Mentions of dates/dating, homecoming, boyfriends & breakups; Mentions of flirting & a flirt; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of crushes; A mention of raging hormones.

-Anne Gibson, age 34
P.O.V. of Anne
274 pages

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Pre Teens- One Star (and a half)
New Teens- Three Stars
Early High School Teens- Four Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
For some reason I was thinking I wouldn’t enjoy this mystery as much as the previous two books—silly me! Of course, I enjoyed it! I just love how clean these have been, just true mysteries with no blood or such. Perfect for those wanting to branch out in a new genre or not a fan of suspense books. :)


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is 3rd in the Secrets of the Blue Hill Library series. The books in the series are written by different authors but so far they have followed the storylines well. Anne runs a library from the house her aunt left her. A widow she has 2 young children. She receives a letter saying the writer will expose a crime that happened on the date of her senior prom. Others in her class also got the same letter. Anne wants to find the writer of the letter and what the crime is before the writer sends it to the newspaper.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This takes place in October. The story involves Homecoming, a letter, and an accident. The mystery was interesting, and it directly involves the main character and the past. I didn't think it would end the way it did. Also, I didn't like the parts of the story outside of the mystery. I haven't enjoyed them in the other books either.

[Ruth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne gets an envelope at the library containing an article accusing her and some others from high-school of wrong-doing. She starts to investigate to find out who would accuse all of them, but will she succeed in finding out the information?

Meanwhile, Liddie and Ben are trying to keep their new puppy out of trouble and show their mom they can take care of him.

People who love mysteries, chick books, serials and books written from a Christian point of view will enjoy this book.

This book can be read by anyone.

[Lee · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Anne Gibson goes downstairs to open the library for the day, she finds a copy of a newspaper clipping with a picture of the Homecoming Dance her senior year in high school. It is accompanied by an accusation that Anne along with a number of her classmates are responsible for a crime that night and a threat to send the information to the local paper. Anne begins her investigation into the accusation and who was responsible for the threat.

[Dianne Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the previous books in this series that I've read, it's an easy read. The touch of mystery...sprinkled with Christian faith...make it an enjoyable book.

[Elaine]

Good story about guilt & the damage harboring it can. cause.

[Debbie Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series. It is the new to me series from Guideposts (like the Tales from Grace Chapel Inn series). I will have to buy all the books in the series as I read them because the library does not have any of them. Because of that it will take a while to get through this series.

I also like this series because they are mystery books. I enjoy a good mystery and these books are good reading, not too predictable, great characters you love, good morals, a wonderful town I would love to live in and just good Christian fiction.

In this book Anne and her old friends from high school are accused of being involved in a crime that took place on homecoming night almost 20 years prior. They have 7 days to fess up or the writer of the article is going to deliver the article to the newspaper and the police. Anne has to solve this. Did she do something that someone could have misconstrued as a crime? Did one of her other old friends do something? There is not much time to solve this and in the meantime her kids are itching with poison ivy they got at the church picnic! What a week this is going to be.

"Reverend Tom continued the faith theme in his sermon, and the scripture was one of Anne's favorites. Jeremiah 29:11, 'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'
Anne noticed a couple of teenage girls, whispering until a parent silenced them by the clearing of his throat. Anne remembered those days. The youth group would crowd together on the back pews. They could sit together as long as they were quiet. Little did they or their classmates know where their lives would lead. Oh, they had big plans. One look at the ambitions listed under their names in their yearbooks confirmed that. Back then they really had no clue what was in store for them, but God did. she wondered what the outcome would be now for the author of that article or the one he accused. Would justice be served? Or only more turmoil and pain.
She bowed her head and prayed along wit Reverend Tom's closing prayer that she'd trust God's plan for them.
Lord, I seem to be struggling this week and stressing to much. I feel like there's a ticking bomb hanging over my head. I know I should have more faith. Please grant me peace and the wisdom to do what is right.
She raised her head, determined not to worry anymore. She'd do the best she could to help her friends but leave what she couldn't do in God's hands." (pg 231)

If you love mysteries and Christian fiction I highly recommend this series.

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Have only read #2 in the series, but didn't feel terribly lost. Not much of a mystery, but it's another light read, like #2. Anne is settled in as librarian in the house she inherited from her aunt when a mysterious fake news article shows up, centered around her high school homecoming dance evening and threatening to publish the article with the crime one of her gang allegedly committed that night. She digs into the past to solve the mystery before the author goes public and perhaps ruins someone’s life, which gets her reunited with several classmates she hasn’t seen since she moved away. All the while, Ben and Liddie are suffering from a bad case of poison ivy from the church picnic that keeps them home from school...yet she galavants around town trying to solve the mystery instead of hanging with them.

[Jacquie Stricklind · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anne gets a letter in the mail containing a mock up of an article that will be published that implicates Anne and six of her friends from high school in a crime that was committed on Senior prom night. Anne has to find out what the crime and who sent the letter before the deadline that was set by the person who sent the letter, all while running the library and taking care of Ben and Liddie who are covered from poison ivy. With help from God and her friends, she might just solve this mystery. This was such a good book, I can not wait to read the next book!

[Debby Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A small town cozy mystery that takes one down memory lane. Anne, who runs a library inherited from her aunt, receives a letter with clues to a crime committed on homecoming night her senior year of high school. With the help of Alex, a handsome construction worker, Anne goes on a quest to solve the crime. The person who committed the crime turned out not to be a bad person, just someone who made mistakes and was looking to atone for them. I was satisfied with all the puzzle pieces fitting together in the end.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlocking the Truth is Book 3 in Guideposts’ Blue Hill Library Series. It’s an interesting story revolving around Anne’s high school friends—most of whom are new characters to the series—as Anne is reconnecting with different ones.

My favorite character in this novel is Liddie, Anne’s young daughter. She is a sweetheart, but seems to be carrying around a heavy burden that she hasn’t chosen to share with her mom.

[Val · Rating 4 out of 5]

The past comes back to haunt Anne and her friends from high school when a newspaper article is delivered to each of them accusing them of wrong doing. Anne is determined to find out what and who did wrong all those years ago. (Her leaving the library and her kids all the time to someone else to watch is kind of starting to bother me.) 😐 sorry

[Sarah A · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series. This one dives into high school attitudes and behavior. We would all like to think we were better than we were and here the characters realize they should have been better.

[Haley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had me guessing till the very end! I had no idea what would happened. Though the outcome wasn't what I expected, I enjoyed the book overall! If you like cozy mysteries, you will enjoy this book.

[Debby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a different storyline for a mystery and it worked. Annie reaches out to former classmates to solve an old hit and run accident and a burglary. She received an unpublished newspaper article that set things in motion. Throw in a couple of cases of poison ivy and you have a good mystery.

[Jean Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting story, makes you think about how guilt can eat at you and color your life. Kind of makes you wonder if there were things you did as a teen that affected someone negatively.

[Flora Camille Lynette Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very GOOD!! THIS ONE HAD ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT THE WHOLE TIME AND THE TWIST AND TURNS KEEPING ME GUESSING WHO THE GUILTY PARTY WAS WAS FUN!!

[Kaye Wingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

[Melmo2610 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really fun mystery that takes Anne back to her high school days. Enjoyed!

[Tracy David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my most favorite so far of this series, but a good example of forgiveness...too bad they didn't elaborate more on the dealing of it.

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book did not move fast enough in the plot for me or I just didn’t find it as interesting as some other books I’ve read

[Addison Public Library]

In the third book of the Blue Hill Library series, Anne receives a letter accusing her and several former classmates of a crime committed at a high school dance years ago. The anonymous letter writer doesn't say what the crime is but only that the guilty party needs to confess before the letter is sent to the local newspaper. Anne knows that reputations and careers could be ruined by even a hint of scandal and begins to investigate on her own. A nice series about small town life, family and gentle mysteries. A clean read.

KD 1-17
Check out this book today!

[KayDee]

In the third book of the Blue Hill Library series, Anne is shocked when she receives an anonymous letter accusing her and several former classmates of an unspecified crime. The crime supposedly occurred during a dance held while they were still in high school and the accuser is intent on giving the story to the newspapers if the guilty party doesn't fess up. (Christian Fiction)

[Rose May · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good, clean mystery.

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice, easy mystery.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Christian based mystery. This is the third in the series and I've loved them all. Can't wait for the next one. They can be bought through Guideposts.

[Bess · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's such a sweet series - so glad to have found it.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in the blue hills series and I’ve got to say my favorite so far. We’re finally getting to know more about the characters and the town and I’m loving it.